From His Fake Wife to Billionaire Heiress Chapter 304: She's the One

He wasn't blind, and he certainly wasn't a fool.

Sophia scrambled for an excuse. "Lucas, don't listen to Jeremy's nonsense! H-He probably just saw Riley picking on me earlier and wanted to protect his mother. A child's silly words, that's all. Don't read too much into it."

She was desperately trying to stitch the crumbling lie back together.

"Really?" Lucas' voice was low, devoid of warmth. "Do you think I'm actually blind, Sophia? Or do you just believe I'm that easy to fool?"

He didn't waste another glance on her, stepping past her as if she were invisible.

His destination was clear: the hospital's security office. He needed to see exactly who the man who had taken Riley away was.

As Lucas walked, he pulled out his phone and dialed her number.

"The number you have dialed is currently unavailable." The automated message repeated in his ear, cold and impersonal.

*****

Meanwhile, Riley found herself nestled in the passenger seat of Sebastian's car, the city lights blurring past the window as they wound their way up the hillside. The imposing silhouette of the Hillside Mansion soon came into view.

Miranda, who had been lingering in the grand living room, nearly dropped her cup when Sebastian strode through the foyer, Riley cradled carefully in his arms.

"Oh my goodness!" Miranda leapt to her feet, rushing over. Her eyes widened at the sight of Riley's bandaged ankle. "What in the world happened? You were perfectly fine yesterday!"

Gently, Sebastian settled Riley onto the plush cushions of the sofa.

"Just a minor accident. It's nothing serious," Riley said quietly, her tone subdued.

Sebastian didn't comment, merely gave her hand a brief, reassuring pat before moving to the side table. He picked up the house phone, his voice dropping to a low, authoritative murmur. "Get the family doctor here. Now."

Watching his focused movements, Miranda couldn't resist sidling up to Riley on the couch. She leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Well, well. I've never seen Mr. Ice Cube himself in such a state! He was mid-video call with his dad, checked his phone, and bolted out of here like the house was on fire. Now I see why—playing the white knight, are we?"

She winked theatrically.

A faint warmth crept up Riley's neck at the teasing.

Her gaze drifted instinctively toward Sebastian. He stood with his back to them, phone to his ear, his broad shoulders a silhouette of unspoken strength against the room's soft lighting.

A strange, comforting warmth unfurled in her chest.

The family doctor arrived with impressive speed.

After a thorough examination and a series of questions about the injury's cause, his diagnosis mirrored the hospital's.

Once the doctor departed, Sebastian carefully helped Riley up the sweeping staircase to a guest room on the second floor.

It was spacious and serene, with a vast floor-to-ceiling window offering a breathtaking panorama of the city's glittering tapestry far below.

"It's quiet here. You can rest properly," he said, ensuring she was comfortably settled, her injured ankle propped up on a pillow.

Only now, surrounded by this unfamiliar peace, did the tension that had gripped Riley since leaving the hospital finally begin to ebb.

It was then she remembered her phone, still set to "Do Not Disturb."

She picked it up. The moment Riley switched the setting off, the screen lit up violently—dozens of missed calls, all from Lucas, alongside several unread message notifications.

So, he finally realized he messed up. Now he's panicking.

But apologies and concern that came too late? They were worthless.

Her thumb hovered over the message icon when Sebastian's voice, calm and close, broke her concentration.

"Don't bother with those." He stood by the bed, his gaze steady. "All you need to do is rest. Let the world fall apart outside; I'll handle it."

Riley looked up, meeting his unreadable eyes.

"Thank you," she murmured.

Sebastain stayed for a few more minutes, a silent, watchful presence until he was assured of her calm.

"If you need anything, just ring for the staff," he finally instructed before turning to leave, closing the door softly behind him.

Alone, Riley exhaled a long, weary breath and tossed her phone onto the nightstand.

Exhaustion, sudden and deep, washed over her. Within moments, she was asleep.

Downstairs, Sebastian found Miranda still lounging on the sofa, an eyebrow arched in open amusement.

"Bringing your damsel in distress straight home, are we? That's a first. Come on, 'Bastian. Spill it. What's so special about Riley?" she quipped, her eyes dancing with mischief.

His expression hardened. "Stop talking nonsense. She was injured and needed a place to recover." The reply was curt, an attempt to shield himself behind his usual aloofness.

"Injured? Pfft!" Miranda snorted, her look turning piercingly perceptive. "Don't give me that. She's the one, isn't she? That online gaming partner you scoured the globe for years ago?"

Sebastian froze.

After Regina passed away, his reclusive tendencies resurfaced completely, and he shut himself off from the world.

Sebastian locked himself inside his room, unreachable even to his family, who stood helplessly outside.

During that time, aside from being forced to eat and drink by the servants, he spent every waking hour lost in single-player video games, using them as his only escape from reality.